Spice Free Strawberry Basil Sparkling Cooler
Fresh strawberries and fragrant basil come together in a homemade syrup that is genuinely more vibrant than anything you'd find in a bottle. The process is simple — a quick simmer to coax out the berry juices, a gentle steep to pull the herbal notes from the basil, and a bright hit of lemon juice to tie it all together. Because everything is made from scratch with whole, recognizable ingredients, there's no guesswork about hidden seasonings or mystery flavor blends sneaking into your glass. The result is a sparkling drink that feels fancy enough for a dinner party but easy enough for a lazy afternoon on the porch. Poured over ice and topped with chilled sparkling water, it's refreshingly light with just the right balance of sweet, tart, and floral. The optional strawberry and basil garnish makes it look absolutely stunning, though it tastes just as good straight from the pitcher.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the strawberry basil syrup
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- 10 fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish
For the cooler
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 4 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 fresh strawberries, halved (optional)
- 4 fresh basil sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the strawberries, maple syrup, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries have softened and released their juices and the liquid is lightly syrupy, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Remove the pan from the heat. Add the basil leaves and press them gently into the warm syrup with a muddler or the back of a spoon. Let the mixture steep for 10 minutes, until the syrup is fragrant with basil.
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